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What You Need to Know (WYNTK) on Tivoli Business Service Manager (TBSM) 4.1: Documentation

in Best Practices, Business Service Management, dashboard, E2E Service Management, IBM, Implementation, Netcool/RAD, Service Management, TBSM, Tivoli

The documentation has always been above par from my perspective for the former Netcool/RAD product. The release of TBSM 4.1 kicks it up a notch in what appears to be the norm for IBM Tivoli. While most of this was just a “bluewash” of what we had from the Micromuse days, we have added a few more valuable pieces of content.

  • Exploring IBM Tivoli Business Service Manager 4.1: Good overview of key features and functionality. Presents an approach for developing service models in TBSM 4.1 in a step by step manner. I’d start here if you want to get a good overview and to put some thoughts into how you might begin post installation.
  • Release Notes: Provides latest information about the product discovered late in the test cycle that cannot be incorporated into the other publications. Check this out for things to keep in the back of your mind as you plan your installation.
  • Quick Start: Short and simple overview information about simple TBSM installation. Anything other than that you’ll need the Installation Guide.
  • Installation Guide: Provides information about installing the product. This is a must read to get up to speed with the new features that now surround the core TBSM 4.1 product. If you’re coming from a legacy Netcool/RAD background, review this. Everyone that’s new to TBSM 4.1 will use this as their introduction to the product and the other Netcool products under the covers. You may need to review other Netcool product manuals to really understand what your options are for more advanced installations and configuration options.
  • Administrator’s Guide: Provides information about managing and configuring TBSM. This is the core foundational administration manual for what you’ll be doing during and post installation. A ton of information in here on the new capabilities surrounding the product such as integrations. Use the Service Configuration Guide for the core design and configuration tasks.
  • Service Configuration Guide: Provides information on how to use the features of the product console. This is the core design and configuration manual for all things service model related. How to build templates, instances, rules, visualizations, etc. Print this one off!
  • Customization Guide: Provides information on how to customize select features of the product. This will give you some insight into what you can do above and beyond the standard configuration and application of TBSM 4.1 features and functionality. There’s a lot more that’s needed in this manual for sure, but it’s a start.
  • Scenarios Guide:Provides information how to use key features using test data installed with the product. This is our tried and true “teach it to yourself” manual. It’s a bit dated and could’ve used more content and scenarios, but it serves its purpose. Use this to walk you through application of key features and functionality. Check out the contrib directory as well for more scenarios and demos.
  • Troubleshooting Guide: New manual with useful information about resolving common problems with the product. I hope this is updated frequently with real world information from our support, services and development groups. You can also watch the RSS feed from the TBSM 4.1 support site on known issues, PMR’s, etc.

The online version of the TBSM 4.1 Document Library is located here.

I’d enjoy hearing your feedback on these manuals and where we can improve. I will ensure your feedback gets back to our documentation team. (Keep up the good work Richard and team!)

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